The transformation between different topological spin textures

Skyrmions and bimers are fundamental topological spin textures in magnetic thin films with asymmetric exchange interactions, and they can be used as an information carrier for next-generation low-power memory, the advanced neuromorphic computing and advanced quantum computing. They have several degrees of freedom that can carry information.

The transformation between isolated skyrmions and bimerons will be an essential operation for future computing architecture based on multiple different topological bits. Therefore, it is important for the community to find efficient ways to realize the creation, transformation and manipulation of skyrmions and bimerons into magnetic materials.

In a recent study published in Nano-lettersthe group led by Xiaoxi Liu demonstrates through experiments and simulations that the creation of isolated skyrmions and their subsequent transformation into bimers is possible in a magnetic disk surrounded by a current-conducting, omega-shaped microcoil, where the field of Electric current-induced ‘Oersted and temperature-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy variation play an important role in the transformation between skyrmions and bimers.

The researchers discover that the current injected into the microcoil can generate an Oersted field to switch the magnetization of the magnetic disk in out-of-plane directions. During this time, the current injected into the microcoil may heat the magnetic disk and cause the device temperature to rise.

As a result, a decrease in the temperature-induced magnetic anisotropy is realized in the magnetic disk, which leads to the reorientation of the magnetization from the out-of-plane direction to the in-plane direction and thus promotes the transformation of skyrmions in bimers. Researchers also find distorted skyrmion bubbles and chiral labyrinth domains when transforming between skyrmions and bimers.

The researchers’ results demonstrate the possibility that two different types of topological spin textures may be hosted by a single magnetic film with asymmetric exchange interactions, which may provide guidelines for building new spintronic applications based on different types. topological spin textures.

“Our experiment clarified for the first time the transformation between different topological spin textures,” says Liu. He also mentions: “Skyrmions and bimerons are the two most important information carriers for next-generation memory and advanced computing architectures. Our research is of fundamental physical interest. It is also important for the data storage and future computing community.

Researchers will try to study the applications of magnetic and spintronic devices based on the transformation of different types of topological spin textures. An example is voltage-gated spintronic devices based on skyrmions and bimerons. “Our ultimate goal is the application of topological spin textures for low power consumption, high-density memory, and advanced neuromorphic computing,” says Liu.